About
Who Are We?
The Center for the Study of Sexual and Gender Health is a multidisciplinary coalition of academic and community partners committed to improving the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ people locally, regionally, and nationally. Together, we are conducting innovative research, providing education & training opportunities, and building a stronger community.
Why have a Center?
Nationally, LGBTQ communities face dramatic disparities. LGBTQ people have disproportionately worse mental and physical health outcomes across the lifespan. LGBTQ youth are 2-3 times more likely to be homeless and to attempt suicide. Many older LGBTQ adults are isolated and struggle to identify support in end-of-life care.
In the Deep South, disparities are amplified by pervasive LGBTQ-related stigma and discrimination. Alabama has few protections for LGBTQ people in housing, employment, education, and healthcare. Alabama was also one of the first states to criminalize gender affirming care for transgender and gender non-conforming youth.
Despite this challenging environment, alongside our community partners, we have not merely survived but thrived:
- We received over $3.9 million in research funding.
- We launched UAB’s LGBTQ Health and Wellbeing Undergraduate and Graduate Certificate Programs.
- We expanded our community collaborations and hosted multiple events.
Who is involved in the Center?
The Center draws on academic and community-wide expertise. Dr. Sarah MacCarthy is Center Director, Dr. Gabe H. Miller is Associate Director, and Nic Carlisle, JD is Deputy Director. We are supported by an interdisciplinary leadership team, core faculty & staff, and community partners.
Leadership Team
Sarah MacCarthy, ScD
Director
Associate Professor and Endowed Chair
Magic City LGBTQ Health Studies
UAB School of Public Health
Department of Health Behavior
Gabe H. Miller, PhD
Associate Director
Assistant Professor
UAB College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Sociology
Nic Carlisle, JD
Deputy Director
Clinical Research Coordinator
UAB School of Public Health
Department of Health Behavior
Olivia Van Gerwen, MD
Assistant Professor
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases
Frank Puga, PhD
Assistant Professor
UAB School of Nursing
Department of Acute, Chronic and Continuing Care
Bridge Kennedy, PhD
Associate Professor
UAB College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Psychology
Donald Gerke, PhD
Assistant Professor
UAB College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Social Work
Emma Kay, PhD, MSW
Associate Professor
UAB School of Nursing
Department of Acute, Chronic, and Continuing Care
Jessica Jaiswal, PhD
Assistant Professor
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Division of Family and Community Medicine
School of Public Health
Gregory Pavela, PhD
Associate Professor and Associate Dean
UAB School of Public Health
Department of Health Behavior
Katia Bruxvoort, PhD
Assistant Professor
UAB School of Public Health
Department of Epidemiology
Ann Elizabeth Montgomery, PhD
Associate Professor
UAB School of Public Health
Department of Health Behavior
Janet Turan, PhD
Professor
UAB School of Public Health
Department of Health Policy and Organization
Mallie Froehlich, MSW
Research Coordinator
UAB School of Public Health
Department of Health Behavior
College of Arts and Sciences
Lisa Gezon, PhD
Professor and Chair
UAB College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Anthropology
Gareth Jones, MA
UAB Office of the Provost
Director of Service Learning and Undergraduate Research
Natasha Zaretsky, PhD
Professor
UAB College of Arts and Sciences
Department of History
Mieke Beth Thomeer, PhD
Associate Professor
UAB College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Sociology
Tina Kempin Reuter, PhD
Professor and Director
Institute for Human Rights
UAB College of Arts and Sciences
School of Medicine
Rodney Tucker, MD
Professor and Director
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Department of Medicine
Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative Care
Casey Azuero, PhD
Associate Professor
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Ronit Elk, PhD
Professor
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative Care
Matthew Gravett, MD
Assistant Professor
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases
Andrew Duxbury, MD
Professor
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Division of Pediatric Endocrinology
Hussein Abdul-Latif, MD
Associate Professor
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Latesha Elopre, MD
Associate Professor
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases
Shawn F. Galin, PhD
Professor
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, & Critical Care Medicine
Nicholas Van Wagoner, MD
Associate Professor
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases
Morissa Ladinsky, MD
Professor
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Division of Academic General Pediatrics
Christina Muzny, MD
Professor
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases
Michael Mugavero, MD
Professor
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases
Krishmati Siwakoti, MD
Assistant Professor
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
School of Education
Retta Evans, PhD
Professor and Chair
UAB School of Education
Department of Human Studies
School of Nursing
David Vance, PhD
Professor
UAB School of Nursing
Nursing Acute, Chronic, & Continuing Care
Felesia Bowen, PhD, DNP
Professor and Associate Dean
UAB School of Nursing
Nursing Acute, Chronic, & Continuing Care
Join Our Team
UAB is an equal opportunity Employer – EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran Employer. UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UAB’s Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX notice of nondiscrimination is located at https://www.uab.edu/titleix/.
Please see below for career opportunities with us.
Community Partners
